The push for net zero emissions in the global shipping industry has placed Africa’s seafarers at a critical juncture. With the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the industry’s shift away from conventional bunker fuels towards alternative, low-carbon energy sources demands urgent action to ensure Africa’s 78,000 seafarers are not excluded from this green transition.

Shipping, which accounts for roughly 2% of global emissions, is accelerating its decarbonization efforts. However, the technological and fuel transformations required to meet these goals present significant challenges. Training requirements are expected to skyrocket, with up to 800,000 global seafarers needing new qualifications by the mid-2030s to handle volatile alternative fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia. For African seafarers, the situation is compounded by systemic barriers, including limited fleet ownership, high training costs, and inadequate access to cutting-edge technologies.

In response, a coalition led by the Regional Maritime University (RMU), South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI), and the Climate Champions Team has issued a call to action to ensure a just transition for African seafarers. Building on the Maritime Just Transition Task Force’s 10-point action plan, stakeholders are advocating targeted investments, policy reforms, and international collaboration.

Key challenges and opportunities

African seafarers face a daunting set of obstacles. Access to practical training is limited, with few African-owned vessels available for cadetship programmes. Emerging decarbonization technologies are often unavailable for training purposes, leaving seafarers ill-prepared for future industry demands. Compounding these issues is a lack of diversity in the workforce, with women comprising only a small fraction of Africa’s seafarers.

Despite these challenges, Africa holds immense potential to become a global supplier of skilled maritime professionals. However, realizing this potential will require substantial investment in training infrastructure, curriculum development, and capacity building. Stakeholders are urging governments and climate finance providers to prioritize the funding necessary to upgrade maritime institutions and integrate decarbonization-specific skills into training programmes.

Action points for a just transition

The coalition’s call to action focuses on three critical areas:

1. Investment in skills and infrastructure: Governments must fund maritime institutions to provide state-of-the-art training facilities, including simulators, equipment, and vessels. National policies should increase the annual output of qualified African cadets, addressing the global shortfall of 90,000 seafarers per year.
2. Promoting diversity and inclusion: Policies must incentivize the recruitment of women into the sector. African youth, particularly girls, should be encouraged to explore maritime careers through targeted outreach campaigns and mentorship programmes.
3. Industry collaboration: Shipping companies are urged to support on-the-job training and curriculum development. Employers must prioritise the recruitment of African seafarers and involve them in decarbonization planning, ensuring their voices are central to the transition.

As shipping navigates the path to net zero, leaving Africa’s seafarers behind would undermine the industry’s global workforce and exacerbate inequality. The call to action highlights the unique opportunity for Africa to increase its contribution to the global maritime workforce while pursuing a greener and more inclusive shipping sector. But without immediate and coordinated action, the risks to the safety, wellbeing, and employability of Africa’s seafarers will only grow.

READ THE CALL TO ACTION

Main image: Lloyd’s Register